GLP Podcast: COVID vaccine skepticism justified? Live long despite your genes; Junk food addiction

Many people simply refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Is their skepticism justifiable, or are they plagued by biases that hinder their ability to consider the evidence? Your genetics determine a lot about your health, but developing the right habits can modulate the impact of your genes and extend your lifespan. Can you be “addicted” to junk food? A growing body of research suggests the answer may be “yes.”

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Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on this episode of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

• Viewpoint: A psychological deep dive into the minds of COVID vaccine ‘refuseniks’

Science educators have spent years trying to understand what drives people into the anti-vaccine movement. Some studies have posited that vaccine “refuseniks” have a propensity to believe conspiracy theories and may come from segments of society that feel alienated from the broader culture. But is there more to the story? And why has vaccine refusal reached such a fever pitch during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Living longer: Genes set limits, but diet and exercise can extend lifespans

Is your lifespan dictated by your genes? The answer is complicated. While your genetics certainly influence your overall health, research continues to show that the habits you cultivate can modulate the impact of your genes, helping you avoid obesity, for example, or a serious disease that may run in your family. These factors tend to be most important in middle age; if you can avoid them, then your chances of living longer increase significantly.

• How the brain drives food addictions

One well-known origin story of the obesity epidemic tells us that there’s a mismatch between our genes and the modern environment we inhabit. While we evolved to survive under conditions of food scarcity, unprecedented wealth and technological advancement have given us access to an abundant supply of cheap, processed food—loaded with enticing combinations of salt, sugar and fat. No longer must we hunt and gather the calories we consume; we can order them from a McDonald’s drive-thru, which of course involves minimal physical exertion.

Do these conditions set the stage for addiction to junk food? If so, what do we do about it?

Recommended Twitter follow: @klausammann  and @joeschwarcz

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter @ACSHorg